| ACCORD Newsletter 14 - October 2003 | |
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Contents in this issue
Co-operative profileCreating 'social capital' through culturally sensitive housing co-operatives
Karine Shellshear explores how co-operative housing might contribute to cultural integration and the development of social capital in her engaging case study of the Sydney based Tongan Housing Co-operative, "Hope, Faith and Love". Shellshear considers the value of the 'meaning of home' and looks at how the co-operative model could counter the 'loss of home' (culture, family, language and identity) commonly experienced by migrants in Australia. The study proposes that housing co-ops can play a key role in nurturing 'social capital', with the flow-on benefits of increased social cohesion, counteracting social exclusion and helping to build 'sustainable' communities. The study points to a lack of research available in NSW to demonstrate specific advantages to be derived from the co-operative housing model.
"Currently in NSW, the place of the co-operative housing movement within the social housing system is not well defined, nor is its value fully recognised, yet this model remains an attractive housing option to communities experiencing social exclusion, particularly disadvantaged ethnic communities," explains Shellshear. The conclusions drawn provide valuable insights for policy makers, planners and designers working within Government, particularly, as recent findings by the NSW Department of Housing (DoH, 1999) show that Sydney will continue to be a focus for overseas migration, and migrants are likely to continue to represent a large proportion of the applicants seeking housing assistance. Many will require culturally appropriate housing. Planning and housing policy in Australia can no longer ignore the increasing cultural and social diversity of the populations in cities and should consider new ways of thinking about urban housing form. Karine Shellshear is the Executive Officer of the Association to Resource Cooperative housing (ARCH) and is an Associate of ACCORD. The case study is published on ACCORD's website (PDF 481Kb), courtesy of Karine. Social Capital - What's newTime to encourage the third sectorThe social economy is being held back by a lack of recognition and inappropriate regulations, according to Mark Lyons and Andrew Passey, Australian Centre for Cooperative Research and Development (ACCORD), University of Technology, Sydney. Reported in Australian Policy online 25-9-2003 Ethnic communities building social capital in Australian citiesAt ACCORD'S seminar on 4 September, chaired by Jock Collins, Professor of Economics at the University of Technology, Sydney (UTS), representatives of ethnic community organisations, government departments, planners, social workers, multicultural workers, policy advisors, academics and politicians came together to discuss how ethnic communities contribute to building sustainable cities and towns in Australia. The event attracted widespread media interest with coverage by SBS TV news, The Sydney Morning Herald, national and local radio and community press
A research report by Walter Lalich, an ACCORD Associate, titled Ethnic community capital in Sydney, was launched and key findings discussed. Participants also heard experts from around the country discuss various aspects of ethnic community integration in Australian society Stepan Kerkyasharian, Chairman, Community Relations Commission of NSW, outlined the role of the State in the development of communities. Professor Ian Burnley, Visiting Professor of Geography, University of NSW, provided a historical and contemporary overview of ethnic communities in Australian cities and towns. Hurriyet Babacan, Executive Director, Community Outcomes Branch, Department of Premier and Cabinet, Queensland Government emphasised the need to create a sense of place and of identity and belonging among migrant communities. Councillor Maìre Sheehan, Mayor of Leichhardt, provided a local government perspective on Ethnic communities building better suburbs. Dr Branka Krivokapic-Skoko, Senior Research Fellow, ACCORD and CSU described the ethnic communities settlements in rural areas of New Zealand. ACCORD and UTS are seeking business partners in new research into this important area of ethnic social capital building: Anyone interested should contact Professor Jock Collins. Social Capital: Reviewing the Concept and its Policy ImplicationsAndrew Passey, Senior Research Fellow, ACCORD, comments on the Productivity Commission's Research Paper, July 2003. This paper is a cautious but welcome addition to debates over social capital that have been taking place over the past 10 years in academia, the third sector and increasingly in government. Download the PDF from the Productivity Commision website. While it does not make any major policy recommendations, the report does highlight some Australian and international examples of policy ideas that might add to the stock of social capital. Perhaps as important, the report also admits that government policies, including some that are currently in place in Australia, can have a detrimental impact on social capital. These conclusions stem from a relatively thorough review of the literature on social capital, especially the contested issues of definition, measurement, and policy impact. Among the key points highlighted in the report are two recommendations. The first is that governments should at least consider the scope for modifying policies that are found to damage social capital, and ways of harnessing existing social capital to deliver programs more effectively. ACCORD endorses this recommendation, although we would argue that the first element 'first do no harm' is more straightforward than the second fostering social capital for government ends. This is partly because the second is open to broad interpretation from across the political spectrum, especially the seductive notion that social capital might be a means of reducing public expenditure, as highlighted in the report's overview. The second recommendation does not go far enough in arguing that further research, coupled with small-scale policy experimentation, may be warranted to provide better knowledge and tools for incorporating social capital considerations in policy analysis. We would call for the substitution of is for may be, since with such a slippery concept as social capital there remains a need for improved evidence, especially in relation to policy analysis and development. These concerns aside, we welcome the Commission's tentative dip of the toes in this area. Recent statements by Treasurer Peter Costello hint that there is an audience in government for ideas that might contribute to social capital. ACCORD hopes that social economy organisations will be among those trying to tap into this audience, as well as into work in government and elsewhere to measure and assess social capital. Co-operative achievementsCanadians lead $2.2-M National Study on Co-ops
The Centre for the Study of Co-operatives, University of Saskatchewan was last year awarded a three-year research grant from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada, Strategic Themes program to explore the extent to which co-operatives reflect or contribute to social cohesion or a common sense of identity in the communities where they are located. The grant coordinated through the Centre, includes 15 academic co-investigators and more than 20 community partners. Social cohesion is a key policy interest of SSHRC's Strategic Grants Program. "The impact of globalisation on the institutions that hold us together - as communities, provinces or nations - is one of the most complex issues facing Canada today," said SSHRC President Marc Renaud. "To understand these issues, and make the best policy decisions for Canadians, we need broadly based interdisciplinary team research like this." Further information, including a complete list of co-investigators, institutions, partner organizations, and research sites, can be found at: www.socialcohesion.coop. Co-operative and Regional Development StrategyThe Barwon Darling Co-operative Pilot showcases the benefits of co-operation at the local levelAn exciting initiative between the Registry of Co-operatives & Associations and the Barwon Darling Alliance will use the co-operative structure to assist the social and economic development of the Aboriginal communities in the region. Jon Robinson, Manager Special Projects, Registry of Co-operatives & Associations outlines a proposal to help local communities establish commercially viable businesses using the co-operative structure as the legal framework for new ventures. The Aboriginal Enterprise Project of the Barwon Darling Alliance is the pilot project under the Registry's Co-operative and Regional Development Strategy (CARDS) showcasing the benefits of local level co-operation in assisting community renewal and capacity building efforts. The AE Project will initially focus on the eight communities of Bourke, Brewarrina, Broken Hill, Coonamble, Dareton, Goodooga, Lightning Ridge and Walgett. The small Aboriginal community of Goodooga has already sought to be involved in the AE Project with the formation of a co-operative to deliver local services including fuel and mechanical repairs; Click here for detailed information. Finance and regional developmentA Report by Kathryn Parker, Research Fellow, ACCORD Kathryn Parker reports that the Department of Transport and Regional Services (DOTARS) Regional Business Development Analysis (RBDA) Inquiry undertaken during 2002 and reporting in August 2003 did not appear to consider ACCORD's public submission and recommendations regarding the contributions of overseas CDFIs to stronger local communities, regional economic growth and enterprises. However, DOTARS Regional Business, A Plan for Action published by the Commonwealth of Australia in August 2003 (available at www.rbda.gov.au) provides strong support and recommendations for regional small businesses and has proposed the creation of a small business financing program modelled on the Canadian Small Business Financing Program, as well as pilots for revolving loan funds. Click this link for more information and a review of the Private Finance and Economic Development, City and Regional Investment Report (OECD, 2003). Connecting communitiesOne City One Site Pilot ProjectCommunity Gateways - getting communities onlineSponsored by the NSW Office of Information Technology and auDA, One City One Site is a pilot project to develop a gateway web structure for all communities, using geographic names. The structure links all online communities, for example www.bathurst.nsw.au, back to a central state/territory based directory site, such as www.nsw.au, allowing simple and logical access to any community online. The pilot aims to develop a definitive best practice model for the implementation of community portals for NSW and Australia using a linked system of geographic domains, broadly based on the pioneering work of the One City One Site Working Party. The development of this model is a world first, creating a logical geographic portal structure, which can be used to create strong social, cultural and economic benefits for local communities. Click here for more information Getting connected in CanadaAn initiative of the Canadian Co-operative Association, Co-operative Connections is a program, which links Canadian co-operatives or credit unions with similar organisations in the developing world. The focus of the program is mutual education so that people from different nations with a shared interest in co-operatives can bridge the differences in culture and resources. The Canadian Co-operative Association helps to link organisations by identifying potential partners, conducting introductory workshops and helping partners exchange information and plan activities. Partnerships encompass activities as varied as information exchange through letters, photos, and video tapes, technical assistance, internships, secondments even commercial activities. Full details http://www.coopscanada.coop/CCA/ID/Participate/connection.html Credit Unions gain momentumCredit union membership up world-wideThe global co-op movement is larger than that of multinational corporations, yet many people still underestimate the scope and size of the co-operative movement and thus how it affects national economies and society in general. The World Council of Credit Unions Statistical Report 2002 says international credit union membership grew by over five percent, from 112 million to more than 118 million people. Around the world, 760 million people are members of co-operatives. In Kenya
20% of the population is a member of a co-operative, while in
Argentina it is over 29%, 33% in Norway, 40% in Canada and the United
States. Co-operatives also provide over 100 million jobs and in some
countries and areas are among the largest employers. Strong Credit Union educationThe Credit Union Foundation of Australia (CUFA) is the development agency for the Australian credit union movement. The foundation supports people in the Asia Pacific region to develop viable credit unions in their communities, and it works with rural and Indigenous communities in Australia to extend financial services to people who lack access to such services. An integral part of CUFAs activities is the Development Education (DE) program. Held twice yearly it brings together participants from Australia, Australian Indigenous people, Asia, and the Pacific. View our detailed infobrief here. News in BriefHarvesting powerNew research highlights the opportunities for co-operatives in the development of the bioenergy industry. Sarah Louise Taylor reports. http://www.newsector.co.uk/articles/57bio.htm
A trusted intermediary
Changing the world with words
It is towards this great, solitary act of self-learning that the written word becomes such a powerful tool, says Donna Morrissey, award-winning author of two best selling novels on the topic of how the written word can affect social change.
Successful ICA General Assembly
Keynote speakers included Ivano Barberini, ICA President, Juan Somavia, Director General of the International Labour Office, and the Prime Minister of Norway, Kjell Magne Bondevik. Speakers pointed to the key role co-operatives play in empowering individuals and communities to meet the challenges of globalization and create a better and safer world. For more details see http://www.ica.coop/ica/ica/icaevents/ga2003/index.html Whats onIn Australia
Friday, 24 October: The Co-operative Federation of South Australia hosts its Annual Conference and AGM at Nuriootpa, in the Barossa Valley.
Tuesday 28 October: Social Entrepreneurs meeting (Sydney Chapter)
5.30pm in the Board Room (B503) Building 5, Block B, UTS Haymarket Campus, Quay Street
(Opposite Market City car park).
15 November: NSW Co-operative Federation seminar, Not-for-profit co-operatives Raymond Terrace 30 November - 3 December: Building a Truly Civil Society, 3rd Australian Family and Community Strengths Conference, University of Newcastle, NSW http://www.pco.com.au/familystrengths Events Overseas
10th - 11th October: Co-operative Young Film Makers Festival - National Museum of Film, Photography and Television, Bradford, UK
15th - 18th October: ICMIF Biennial Conference - Paris 15 - 17 October: International Cooperative Trade Fair Beijing, China Email: icdsmc@public2.bta.net.cn
8 - 10 July 2004: (IAFEP 2004) AnnouncementsStaff changes at ACCORDThis month ACCORD farewells two of its longest serving staff members. Professor Mark Lyons, Co-Director retires. Professor Lyons will continue his research involvement with ACCORD. General Manager and Senior Research Fellow, Garry Cronan, is leaving Australia to take up a new position as Communications Director of the International Co-operatives Alliance (ICA) in Geneva, Switzerland. We wish them well in their new endeavours. Dr Judy Johnston, Senior Lecturer, School of Management, UTS will replace Professor Lyons. Paul Fitzgerald will take over Garry’s role on an interim basis. Paul has an extensive background in economic and social development in Australia and overseas. Social entrepreneurs networking in Sydney
The Social Entrepreneurs Network was formed in 2001 following a successful conference held at the University of New South Wales. SEN creates opportunities for social entrepreneurs to connect with each other for support and learning. A social entrepreneur is generally described as a person who takes an entrepreneurial approach to achieving social outcomes. While many are in social enterprises, social entrepreneurs are also found in government at all levels, private enterprise, and academia. A SEN Chapter recently formed in Sydney, through a partnership with the Australian Centre for Co-operative Research and Development (ACCORD) and the University of Technology Sydney, provides a local focus for social entrepreneurs. The Chapter meets once a month at the UTS Haymarket Campus, followed by a networking dinner. If you would like to receive regular updates or attend our meetings, drop a note to ACCORD Associate Peter Gates at peter.gates@mercury.org.au. Guest speaker at our next meeting, Jock Collins, Professor of Economics at UTS will discuss proposed new research into the valuable, and little known, contributions of ethnic communities and their social enterprises to building social capital in Australian cities. Links
We welcome your comments on our newsletter and any suggested topics or items for inclusion in the next issue, due for publication in November. If you have any items of interest please ensure that these are forwarded to suzanne.henderson@uts.edu.au by 20th October 2003. To refer a friend or to unsubscribe, please e-mail: accord@uts.edu.au. All contact information provided will be kept strictly confidential. |
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